It looks like this is the reason we now have Seth Mnookin to replace Paul Offit as liar-in-chief. [And wasn’t one of the reasons for Wakefield losing his licence alleged dishonesty? The CEO and Board of The Children’s Hospital of Philadephia seem to need to do some spring cleaning of their resident liars?].

The Orange County Register has published: April 18, 2011 the correction [text below in full] regarding lies told by Dr Paul Offit the “Doctor of Vaccine Profit” of the Childrens’ Hospital of Philadelphia.

Paul Offit is an inveterate liar, and will say just about anything to quell parents’ fears that vaccines are causing all this autism. Aside from this new episode of lying Offit lied in one of his books about JB Handley the founder of Generation Rescue. Handley sued him, and Offit was forced to correct his book, write Handley a letter of apology and acknowledgement, and donate money to Jenny McCarthy’s second-favorite (behind GR!) charity at UCLA.

Upon further review, it appears that a number of Dr. Offit’s statements, as quoted in the OC Register article, were unsubstantiated and/or false. Attkisson had previously reported on the vaccine industry ties of Dr. Offit and others in a CBS Evening News report “How Independent Are Vaccine Defenders?” July 25, 2008.

Further, Offit told the OC Register that he provided CBS News “the details of his relationship, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s relationship, with pharmaceutical company Merck.”

However, documents provided by CBS News indicate Offit did not disclose his financial relationships with Merck, including a $1.5 million Hilleman chair he sits in that is co-sponsored by Merck.

According to the CBS News’ documentation recently reviewed by the OC Register, the network requested (but Offit did not disclose) the entire profile of his professional financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies including: The amount of compensation he’d received from which companies in speaking fees; and pharmaceutical consulting relationships and fees.

The CBS News documentation indicates Offit also did not disclose his share of past and future royalties for the Merck vaccine he co-invented. To the extent that unsubstantiated and/or false claims appeared in the OC Register and have been repeated by other organizations and individuals, the OC Register wishes to express this clarification for their reference and for the record.

And his undeclared financial interests in promoting vaccines on behalf of the drug industry:

For years some parents and scientists have raised concerns about vaccine safety, including a possible link to autism and ADD. Many independent experts have sided with government officials and other scientists who say there’s no possible connection. But how “independent” are they? CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson shares here’s what she found.

But CBS News has found these three have something more in common – strong financial ties to the industry whose products they promote and defend.

The vaccine industry gives millions to the Academy of Pediatrics for conferences, grants, medical education classes and even helped build their headquarters. The totals are kept secret, but public documents reveal bits and pieces.

A $342,000 payment from Wyeth, maker of the pneumococcal vaccine – which makes $2 billion a year in sales.

A $433,000 contribution from Merck, the same year the academy endorsed Merck’s HPV vaccine – which made $1.5 billion a year in sales.

Another top donor: Sanofi Aventis, maker of 17 vaccines and a new five-in-one combo shot just added to the childhood vaccine schedule last month.

Every Child By Two, a group that promotes early immunization for all children, admits the group takes money from the vaccine industry, too – but wouldn’t tell us how much.

A spokesman told CBS News: “There are simply no conflicts to be unearthed.” But guess who’s listed as the group’s treasurers? Officials from Wyeth and a paid advisor to big pharmaceutical clients.

Then there’s Paul Offit, perhaps the most widely-quoted defender of vaccine safety.

He’s gone so far as to say babies can tolerate “10,000 vaccines at once.”

This is how Offit described himself in a previous interview: “I’m the chief of infectious disease at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a professor of pediatrics at Penn’s medical school,” he said.

Offit was not willing to be interviewed on this subject but like others in this CBS News investigation, he has strong industry ties. In fact, he’s a vaccine industry insider.

Offit holds in a $1.5 million dollar research chair at Children’s Hospital, funded by Merck. He holds the patent on an anti-diarrhea vaccine he developed with Merck, Rotateq, which has prevented thousands of hospitalizations.

And future royalties for the vaccine were just sold for $182 million cash. Dr. Offit’s share of vaccine profits? Unknown.

There’s nothing illegal about the financial relationships, but to critics, they pose a serious risk for conflicts of interest. As one member of Congress put it, money from the pharmaceutical industry can shape the practices of those who hold themselves out to be “independent.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics, Every Child By Two and Dr. Offit would not agree to interviews, but all told us they’re up front about the money they receive, and it doesn’t sway their opinions.

Today’s immunization schedule now calls for kids to get 55 doses of vaccines by age 6.

Ideally, it makes for a healthier society. But critics worry that industry ties could impact the advice given to the public about all those vaccines.

7 Responses

As far as I am concerned, vaccination is an organised criminal enterprise dressed up as disease prevention. The tobacco manufacturers were made to appear in court because of their lies and cover-ups concerning the harm caused by cigarette smoking. The time for vaccine manufacturers and vaccine pushers like Offit to be held accountable for defrauding the public and committing crimes against children is IMO well overdue.

Here is a list of ingredients that have been injected directly into the blood of babies, children and adults by passing the safety systems of the body. Keep in mind that this based on One Shot that in some cases have multiple vaccines.

It would be more helpful if you provided links to source documents to confirm the claims you make about vaccines. Without source references what you say cannot be substantiated and there is little point you posting that kind of information here or anywhere else. Sorry if this sounds a slap-down – it is not. It is purely practical.

In response to childhealthsafety:
I understand the desire for link sources so one could verify, or feel better knowing the information provided could be verified. But the funny thing is, (and you can argue both sides) that the main argument against vaccines is that the information is being skewed so as to leave the consumer with a lack of confidence. So the safe thing is to rely on logic and reason and see what makes sense based on your abilities. My instinct (including lifelong observations about human nature and greed) tells me to do nothing. To avoid the argument while I still have the legal right to do so.
I wish everyone and their children health happiness and equality!

vaccines are the only product the FDA oversees that does not have to prove effectiveness to make claims of effectiveness. all the manufacturers have to show is an antibody response. antibodies wane and are not always the whole shabang when it comes to immunity.
the safety studies are done with placebos that are known toxins not saline. the adverse events reporting goes to the manufacturer to decide if the event (death or damage) is related to their own product.
the ingredient list is scary but does not include the contaminants of various animal viral material. outbreaks of diseases have mostly been in fully vaccinated populations. If you put all of this together and you have half of a brain, wouldn’t you be greatly concerned?
signed an MD in a public health masters.